A Nantwich man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison following an assault outside a takeaway which the judge said had ‘the makings of manslaughter.’

During a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Friday, the court heard how Stuart Hargreaves punched 21-year-old Michael Young, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his skull on the concrete outside the Pizza Parlour in Swine Market on October 4 last year.

Simeon Haughton was also in court on a charge of common assault, after slapping Young three times in the face.

Prosecutor Mandy Nepal stated how, after spending a night drinking in Nantwich, Young, from Whitchurch had been separated from friends and was ordering food inside the takeaway.

CCTV both inside and outside the Pizza Parlour was played in court and first showed Haughton and Young exchanging words inside the shop.

A witness statement told how Haughton, who has previous convictions for violence, including breaking someone’s jaw in an unprovoked attack, was ‘definitely the aggressor and was shouting in the younger lad’s face.’

Footage then showed Haughton shoving Young but was then escorted from the Pizza Parlour by staff.

The incident then continued outside and Haughton was seen slapping Young three times around the face.

The court then saw 27-year-old Hargreaves emerging from a car parked nearby to approach the victim. He struck him with such a blow that he was knocked unconscious after hitting his head on the pavement.

The single punch left Young with a fractured skull, perforated ear drums and hearing loss and had to stay in North Staffs hospital for a period of days.

He has since lost his job due to his hearing loss, says his confidence is low and he is anxious and wary about going out.

Recorder David Williams told Hargreaves before passing sentence, that the unprovoked incident was ‘disturbing’ and fuelled by alcohol.

He said: “This disturbing incident has been clear for everyone to see today from CCTV. The incident (in the takeaway) spilled out onto the road. You turn up in car unsteady and drunk and for no reason struck this man. It had nothing whatsoever to do with you.

“I do acknowledge that this was a single blow but it is clear as a pipe staff you came out of that car looking for trouble and what you did had the makings of manslaughter where the outcome could have been totally different.”

Hargreaves was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay £100.

Simeon Haughton was ordered to pay a £500 fine as well as court costs.